Preparation
Should You Tip a Car Hauler? A Practical Guide
There is no industry standard for tipping car haulers. If you choose to tip, here is a simple guide based on your carrier fee — and when a tip is genuinely appreciated.
5 min readRead
Resources
The Auto Transport Blog
Thirteen years of dispatching vehicles, written down. No filler — just how pricing, carriers, paperwork and claims actually work.
Featured
Who Decided These Are the “Best Car Shipping Companies in Naples”? Our Investigation Into the FreightWaves Rankings
A national publication ranked the “best” car shipping companies in Naples — yet many of its top picks aren't in Naples, or even Florida. We dug into the methodology, the review scores and the advertiser disclosure. Here is what we found, and the questions consumers should ask.
Read the articleFraud Prevention · August 29, 2026 · 14 min read
All articles
Guides, explainers and checklists
Grouped across 8 topics — pricing, preparation, shipping types, seasonal moves, specialty vehicles and buying or selling remotely.
Insurance & Claims
Carrier Insurance and Deductibles: What Is Really Covered
Cargo insurance and the bill of lading belong to the carrier, not the broker. Here is how deductibles decide who pays, why Enterprise is not responsible for damage, and what you should keep in your own insurance policy.
9 min readRead
Fraud Prevention
The Fake Google Maps Auto Transport Problem: Who Are You Really Calling When You Search “Car Shipping Near Me”?
A Google Maps listing is not proof you're dealing with a legitimate local auto transport company. I started investigating local-looking listings across Southwest Florida — the addresses, the images, the names — and comparing them with federal transportation records. Here's what consumers need to know.
13 min readRead
Fraud Prevention
Auto Transport Fraud: The Identity and Chain-of-Custody Gap
Most auto transport fraud solutions focus on carrier vetting. The real gap is identity: proving the person picking up your car is authorized to take it.
8 min readRead
Shipping Types
What Is White Glove Auto Transport and Do You Need It?
White glove auto transport goes beyond enclosed shipping with extra coordination, handling, and communication. Here is what you actually get for the premium.
6 min readRead
Specialty Vehicles
Why Enclosed Auto Transport Is Worth It for Classic Cars
Classic cars need more than mileage protection. Enclosed shipping shields irreplaceable paint, chrome, and trim from the hazards open carriers cannot avoid.
6 min readRead
Specialty Vehicles
How to Ship a Luxury Car Across the Country
Moving a luxury vehicle coast to coast takes more than a low quote. Here is how owners protect value, avoid delays, and choose the right carrier.
7 min readRead
Shipping Types
Is My Car Fully Insured During Enclosed Transport?
Enclosed carriers usually carry $1 million in cargo coverage, but full insurance is a myth. Learn what is actually covered and how deductibles work.
6 min readRead
Shipping Types
How Much Does Enclosed Car Shipping Cost in 2026?
Enclosed car shipping typically costs 40% to 70% more than open transport. Here is what drives the price and how to decide whether the upgrade is worth it for your vehicle.
7 min readRead
Pricing
What Car Shipping Actually Costs in 2026 — And Why Two Quotes Never Match
A plain-English breakdown of the seven variables carriers price against, and why the cheapest number you are shown is usually the one least likely to survive to pickup.
8 min readRead
Shipping Types
Open or Enclosed: Choosing the Right Trailer for Your Vehicle
Roughly nine in ten vehicles ship on open carriers — and that is the correct answer for most people. Here is where the extra cost of enclosed genuinely pays for itself.
7 min readRead
Preparation
The Pre-Pickup Routine: Preparing a Vehicle So Nothing Goes Wrong
Most transport disputes are avoidable and start days before the truck arrives. This is the routine we walk every customer through — including the toll transponder step almost everyone forgets.
6 min readRead
Preparation
The Bill of Lading Is the Only Document That Matters
It is the inspection record, the receipt and the contract in one page. How to read it at pickup, what to write at delivery, and the one line that ends a claim before it starts.
6 min readRead
Shipping Types
Realistic Transit Times: How Long Shipping a Car Actually Takes
Pickup windows, drive-day math, hours-of-service limits and the difference between a promise and a guarantee.
6 min readRead
Seasonal
The Snowbird Playbook: Booking Seasonal Transport Before the Lanes Fill
Southbound in the fall, northbound in the spring, and everyone calling in the same two weeks. How to time a seasonal move so you are not paying peak rates for leftover capacity.
7 min readRead
Specialty Vehicles
Moving a Classic: What Changes When the Car Is Irreplaceable
Valuation, tie-down method, fluid handling and driver experience — the four things that separate collector transport from a standard booking.
7 min readRead
Specialty Vehicles
Shipping a Car That Will Not Start
Non-running does not mean unshippable. What the carrier needs to know, what equipment gets used, and why an honest disclosure saves you money.
5 min readRead
Shipping Types
Door-to-Door or Terminal: Which Delivery Method Fits Your Move
Door-to-door is the default for good reason, but there are real cases where a terminal makes life easier. Here is the honest comparison.
5 min readRead
Buying & Selling
You Bought a Car Two States Away. Now What?
Auction and private-sale purchases have their own rules — release authorization, gate fees, storage clocks and inspection you will not be present for.
7 min readRead
Pricing
Who Actually Pays If Your Car Is Damaged in Transit
Cargo coverage, deductibles, what is excluded, and the difference between the broker who arranged the move and the carrier who performed it.
7 min readRead
Specialty Vehicles
Shipping an EV: Weight, Charge Level and Transport Mode
Electric vehicles ship on the same trucks as everything else, with three details that need to be right before the driver arrives.
5 min readRead
Seasonal
PCS Orders and Your Vehicle: Shipping Around a Military Move
Base access, orders timing, flexible windows and what to do when your report date moves before your car does.
6 min readRead
Pricing
How to Spot an Auto Transport Scam Before You Pay a Deposit
Fake companies clone real brand names, real DOT numbers and real review pages. Six checks that take five minutes and rule out almost all of them.
6 min readRead
Ready to Ship your car?
Open and enclosed semi-truck carriers, door-to-door delivery and a coordinator who answers the phone.